Timeline: Saharanpur adds another chapter of communal clashes in UP

The recent clashes between the two communities in Uttar Pradesh’s Saharanpur district, that has claimed three lives, has yet again put the Akhilesh Yadav-led Samajwadi Party government in the dock.

Facing flak over the deteriorating law and order in the state,the Chief Minister had earlier admitted that as many as 27 incidents of communal violence took place since the SP formed government in Uttar Pradesh. Saturday’s violence has added yet another chapter of communal clashes during Akhilesh’s regime.

Below are the incidents of major communal clashes that occured in Uttar Pradesh during SP government:

June 01, 2012, Mathura: The state witnessed the first riot under the SP government on June 1,when two communities clashed over using water at a religious site in Kosi Kalan,about 45 km from Mathura. Four persons were killed and 16 others injured in the clashes that broke out,reportedly after a pedestrian used water meant for some religious purpose. Police lodged 50 FIRs and arrested 40 people. Nearly 400 people were held under preventive detention. A former Uttar Pradesh minister and his MLC brother were among 156 people booked in connection with the clashes.

June 23, Pratapgarh: Paratapgarh was the second to witness riot on June 23 when 46 houses of Muslims were torched at Asthan village following the gangrape and murder of a minor Dalit girl on June 20. The violence erupted when the body of an 11-year-old Dalit girl,who was allegedly gangraped and murdered on June 20,was being taken for cremation. People were angry over the police’s “late reaction” to the incident. Two FIRs were registered and 30 people were arrested.

July 23, Bareilly: Bareilly saw rioting twice in less than a month. Three persons were killed and 20 injured in Bareilly on July 23 in a clash that spread to neighbouring Aonla after which curfew was imposed in both the places. The clash took place following some altercation between Muslims observing Ramzan and Hindu ‘kanwarias’ taking out their ‘sawan’ (rainy season) processions. Among the 20 injured was Superintendent of Police (city) Shiv Sagar Singh and seven other cops,besides 12 local residents belonging to both the communities. People indulged in stone-pelting,firing and arson. Later it spread to some other areas of the city and some persons set fire to a vegetable market in Sahmatganj and some shops in Jogi Nawada area. Seventy five people were arrested in connection with the incident.

August 11, Bareilly: Riots took place in Bareilly again on August 11 at Shyamganj crossing and Jagatpur locality. This time,the trigger was pelting of stones on a religious procession. This led to heavy brick-batting and firing in which three got injured and one suffered bullet injury. The administration imposed curfew in four police station areas. A total of 38 FIRs were filed and 293 people were arrested.

August 18, Lucknow and Allahabad: The rioting took place on August 18 in Lucknow and Allahabad continued…